Swim at Hot Wells

This is a photograph of a man riding a horse with decorative fringe on its reins, and a MTC banner across its croup. The man is carrying a Victory megaphone and a lacy parasol, and has an ad stating “Swim at Hot Wells, Now Open” attached to his shoulders.

Physical Description

1 black and white photograph, 6” x 4”

Subjects

Advertisements; Advertising; Horses; Swimming; Bathing suits;

Staff Comments

I admit to picking this image just for the sheer oddity of it. For a picture taken in 1918, in the midst of WWI and a world-wide flu pandemic, it has a particularly cheerful and almost cheeky tone. Since I found this photo in our collection, it has remained one of my favorites. It just isn’t every day you see a man on horseback with a sign on his shoulders, a megaphone, and a delicate, lacy parasol. –Mary Dunn

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